Window weatherproofing device and screen hanger



Dec. 3, 1929. J: T. HICKMAN WINDOW FEATHERPROOFING DEVICE AND SCREEN HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1929 m WITNESSES INVENTOR 'rlbae Bayh 7'. Hickman ATTORNEY ifw J. T. HICKMAN Dec. 3, 1929.

WINDOW WEATHERPROOFING DEVICE AND SCREEN HANGER Filed March 5, i929 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 ga /4 M 7 4 INVENTOR dome/707a BY MU g.

ATTORNEY WITNESS s L'B' Jrf/Qbaf Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH T. I-IICKMAN, OF COTTAGE CITY. MARYLAND WINDOW WEATHERPROOFING DEVICE AND SCREEN HANGER Application filed March 5, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in weather-proofing devices, and it consists of the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which is principally intended to be used in connection with a window frame for the purpose of so closing the upper and lower sashes that air will be effectively excluded,

but which is also admirably adaptable as a hanger for window screens.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device that is capable of use with something other than a window frame and sashes, and can be. employed for hanging something other than window screens.

A further object of the invention is to include in the device certain male and female members which can be employed to good effect in straightening the warped rails of window sashes when closing the latter, thus to completely close openings whereat volumes of air might otherwise enter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for the general purpose of weather-proofing a window, said device largelybeing composed of matching male and female members which will be installed at a plurality of places along the top rail of the upper sash and the bottom rail of the lower sash.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of a window frame, parts being broken out, illustrating the upper, middle and lower sash-rail arrangements,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the window frame and the upper sash, illus trating the middle wedge arrangement and the male member of the weather-proofing device,

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view illustrating the female member in the lower sash,

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the male member,

Figure 5 is a partial elevation illustrating the use ofthe device as a screen hanger,

Serial No. 344,520.

Figurefi is a vertical section more clearly illustrating the structure in Fig. 5,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of a window opening illustrating the installation of one of the female members when used as a screen hanger,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the upper end of the screen illustrating the companion male members.

This invention is an improvement on the window weather-proofing device disclosed in an application filed by Joseph T. Hickman, December 28, 1928, Serial No. 328,955. That disclosure is concerned with three wedge arrangements which when installed along the 5 various cross rails of the Window sashes will push the sashes inwardly in respect to the window frame and establish a tight seal against the parting strip, inner facing strip and between the adjoining cross rails of the 7 upper and lower sashes themselves.

But it has since developed that the device may be made to serve the additional and im* portant purpose of a screen hanger. This has meant a modification of some of the sets of wedge arrangements, but they still are wedge arrangements, performing the function of a wedge whether used as a weather-proofing device oras a screen hanger. Moreover, an important simplification in structure has been effected so that the manufacturing cost is materially lowered.

Another and very important advantage follows the use of the improved device. All of the elements thereof, with the exception of the 35 middle wedge arrangement, are concealed when the window sashes are closed. Even when the sashes are open, those elements that coact with the upper and bottom rails of the upper and lower sashes will scarcely be noticed by a person in the room and not at all by a person at a distance on the outside.

The window frame generally designated 1 comprises an outer facing 2, parting strips 3, an inner facing strip 4, a sill 5, stool (5, and a bead 7 (Fig. 7) that is secured in the corners between the exposed )arts of the outer facing 52 and both the briclr work and lintel, as a finisher and also asa means for sealing the corner joints. The upper and lower sashes ing tongue 17, stamped from the plate 18 8 and 9 respectively have upper and lower cross rails 10 and 11 and upper and bottom rails 12 and 13.

A wedge arrangement similar to that used in the application mentioned, is employed in connection with the lower cross rail 11. This is known as the middle wedge arrangement. It comprises a wedge 14 suitably secured to the rail 11. A plate 15 with a flange 16 is suitably secured on a bias to the side edge of the outer facing 2. The flange has the advantage of practically covering the wedge 14 when the sashes are closed, in addition to increasing the bearing surface.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the outstanding elements of the improvement. Theupstand- 7 constitutes themale member. The opening 19 and the plate 20 from which the tongue 21 1s stamped to produce the opening constitute the female member. These members are practically alike, and in practice can be formed from metal of a suitable gauge by a single operation of a die.

- The tongues 17 and 21 will come together upon a closure of the'window sash, and inasmuch as the tongues are set at angles to the plates 18 and 20 there will be a wedging action that will drive the sash inwardly. The male plate 18 must be sufficiently heavy to withstand the thrust upon the tongues,

but it is here emphasized that the metal of the female plate will be lighter and of resilient material so that seating and separation will be assisted in closing and opening a sash.

Resiliency of the female member is an important quality. It permits of certain necessary adaptation of one tongue to the other. It also aids in the release of the members upon lowering or raising the upper and lower sashes. The tongues 21 being under spring tension when the sashes are closed will tend to push the tongues 17 away when the sashes are moved from the closed positions. r

For these purposes the female members 20 are mounted upon the upper cross rail 10 and jon the underside of the bottom rail 13. Re-

cesses 22 in these rails ordinarily accommodate the tongue 21, and both tongues 19 and 21 when the sashes are closed. The male members 18 are mounted in the top of the window frame 1 and in the channel of the sash 8, and upon the sill 5, all as clearly 'shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

As hangers for the screen 23 the male members 18 will be mounted upon the upper edge of thescreen as in Fig. 8. The female members 20 will be mounted on the underside of the top finishing bead 7 (Fig. 7). The screen frame will be made to fit the opening defined by this finishing bead, and all that one has to do is to slide the screen frame up in theopening until the members 18 and 20 come into engagement, then pull in on and secure the fastening means such as 24. The latter may comprise ordinary hooks and eyes.

The operation is readily understood. It has been emphasized that in any use of the device the purpose is to set up a wedge action. lVhen employed in connection with a window as in Fig. 1, the raising of the upper sash 8 will bring the tongues 17 and 21 of the male and female members 18 and 20 into engagement, forcing the upper part of the sash 8 against the parting strips 3. Similarly, the engagement of the wedge 14 and flange 16 will force the lower cross rail 11 against the upper cross rail 12 of the lower sash 9 and the upper part of the latter against the inner facing strip 4.

The lower sash 9 presumably having been closed, the engagement of the tongues 17 and 21 of the male and female members will force quality of the tongues 21 will assist the disengagement of the latter. There is enough spring in the tongues 21 to assist in the initial opening of the sashes. The wedge members of the cross rails 10 and 13 are completely concealed when the sashes are closed. The middle wedge arrangement is always visible, but will be painted over so that none but the sharpest observer will notice it.

Warped cross rails will not constitute an insurmountable defect in producing an air tight window when the improved weatherprooflng device is used. In practice it will generally be sufiicient to equip the cross rails 10 and 13 with one set of male and female members adjoining each side of the frame 1. But suppose the bottom rail 13 is warped in the outward direction. A set of the members installed in the middle of the bottom rail will cause an inward bending of the bottom rail until it meets the stool 6, when the tongues 17 and 21 come into engagement.

As a screen hanger itis only necessary to equip the top of the screen as in Fig. 8 and the underside of the top part of the bead 7 as in Fig. 7. This bead defines an opening in which the screen frame 23 fits. \Vhen the tongues of the members are brought into engagement, the wedging action set up will force the upper part of the screen frame against the exposed part of the outer facing 2. The fastening means 24 will be pulled in and connected to complete the mounting of the screen. I

The presence of the screen will not interfere with the operation of the upper sash 8. The outer facing 2 divides the screen from the upper sash, and when the screen is once installed it will remain firmly in position until removed. It is to be noted that in all instances the male and female members will be well protected from the elements.

Reverting to the use of the device as a means for weatherprooling a window, it is to be observed that the female members 20 are fitted upon the rails of the sashes 8 and 9, while the male members 18 are secured to fixed parts of the frame. This selection has an important purpose. Were the male members attached to the movable sashes, injury to the hands would result were they to come in contact with the projecting tongues 17 in either lowering the upper sash or raising the lower sash.

But by applying the members as stated, the tongues 21 of the female members are secluded in the recesses 22 so that when hand pressure applied either for the lowering or raising of the sashes at points directly over the female members no injury will result.

ll hile the construction and arrangement of the improved weatlienprooiing and screen hanger device is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of tee invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim 1. A device of the character described comn'ising respectively rigid and resilient match ing wedge members, respectively securable to the frame and sash of a window for engagement to shift the sash laterally upon closure and aid disengagement by vlrtue of said resiliency when opening the sash.

2. A device of the character described com prising a plate having a tongue disposed at an angle and constituting a male wedge member. and a plate having a tongue at an angle and an adjoining opening for the reception of the first tongue for engagement with the second tongue.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pair of coacting plates, each having a tongue disposed at an angle, one of the plates having an o iening permitting the engagement of the tongues when the plates are brought together.

l. A device of the character described comprising plates securable on top of and below the upper and bottom rails of upper and lower sashes. tongues depending at angles from openings in said plates into recesses in said rails and constituting female members, and coacting plates securable in the channel oi? the upper sash and upon the rail of a window frame having upstanding tongues to enter said openings and engage said first tongues for a wedging action to force the sashes laterally in the window frame.

5. A device of the character described comprising plates securable on top of and below the upper and bottom rails of upper and lower sashes, tongues depending at angles from openings in said plates into recesses in said rails, coacting plates securable in the channel of the upper sash in a window frame and upon the sill of said frame having upstanding tongues to enter said openings and engage said first tongues for forcing the extreme portions of said sashes against the parting strip and inner facing strip of said frame, and wedge members carried by said frame and the lower cross rail of the upper sash for forcing said cross rail against the top cross rail of the lower sash and the adjoining parts of said sashes against the respective strips.

6. A device of the character described comprising a rigid male wedge member securable to a fixed part of a window frame, and a female member securable over a recess in a movable sash having a tongue occupying said recess and providing a resilient wall with which said rigid wedge member coacts in forcing the sash in one direction in the frame.

7. A device of the character described comprising a female member securable to a sash and having an upstanding tongue extending into a recess in the sash, secluding said tongue and permitting hand )ressure under said sash and over the said female member without injury, and a coacting male member securable to a fixed part of the frame having a rigid upstanding tongue to bear against said first tongue when the sash is closed.

8. A plate having an opening and an adjoining tongue disposed at an angle.

9. A device of the character described comprising a plate having a rigid male wedge member, and a eoacting plate having an opening with an adjoining resilient tongue.

Signed at Washington, in the District of Columbia, this 5th day of March, A.'D. 1929.

JOSEPH T. HIOKMAN. 

